GlobeSec Advisors
Delivering Holistic and Proactive Security

Physical security is becoming increasingly relevant in a world where a company’s assets and executives are exposed to more risks. This emphasizes the need for well-trained security personnel with threat assessment skills, risk management expertise, and defensive tactics knowledge.

Further, there is a need to consider physical security measures, including access control systems, surveillance cameras, and panic alarms and training on essential security awareness and self-defense techniques for better situational awareness.

GlobeSec Risk Countermeasures addresses all these requirements under one umbrella.

The boutique security company provides top-tier and scalable physical security services, enabling clients to respond quickly to evolving physical security needs. It offers comprehensive, reliable security services to companies and their employees, families, and social contacts.

Following is our conversation with Tim Slater, principal consultant at GlobeSec Risk Countermeasures Inc.

Slater, could you provide insights into how GlobeSec is currently positioned and making a significant impact in the enterprise security space?

The significant differences between us and other companies are the benefits we offer. When it comes to security environments, we conduct thorough situational analyses. Unlike some other companies, we don't simply react to a situation upon arrival. Instead, we analyze it beforehand.

Another point of distinction is our subtle presence. We don't often make a grand entrance like a bouncer at a bar but prefer to blend into the corporate environment.

However, it's important to note that our primary focus is on people. We prioritize their safety, particularly in corporate environments. We've worked with top executives in Canada and have accompanied them on international trips. Similarly, we've also collaborated with prominent executives worldwide when they visit Canada.

Our approach in these cases involves leveraging local resources that deeply understand the environment, terrain, and regional dynamics. We always include our leadership as part of the team. Conversely, when corporate figures visit our location, we provide local support while ensuring they have at least one representative from their team.

In such environments, we often have a blend of familiar faces for our clients and individuals who are well-versed in our clients’ locations. For instance, I've been involved in every Olympic Games since 2008 and personally been part of the Beijing, Vancouver, London, and Russia Olympics and worked in Brazil and various other locations. This demonstrates that we collaborate with our personnel in different countries and cooperate with local teams when they visit ours.

Having worked with such distinct groups and associations, what, according to you, are the main challenges they face in enterprise security, and how does GlobeSec effectively address those issues?

One of the challenges corporate entities face is the presence of unknown risks. When these entities hold senior management retreats in other cities, they might need to comprehensively comprehend the risks associated with those locations.

We conduct risk assessments and situational analyses of the environment to ensure the safety of our clients. It's important to note that our clients' dangers are only sometimes targeted directly at them or their company. They could find themselves in an environment where the neighboring company becomes the target of a protest or faces opposition from activists or environmentalists. In such situations, our clients might be inadvertently affected due to their proximity to the events, resulting in potential collateral issues.

When our clients book a hotel, we thoroughly investigate who else stays there to determine if others could target any individuals. We provide them with extensive situational awareness training and offer popular programs such as active shooter response training, especially for client that travel within the U.S.

Additionally, we provide kidnap and ransom training for executives, geologists, and other professionals who may be at risk of being kidnapped while traveling. We train them on how to avoid such situations, respond if they are ever kidnapped, and educate them on what to expect during rescue operations or ransom negotiations. This training provides our clients with comfort, knowing that they have acquired the necessary skills and that our team back home understands their predicament, having dealt with similar cases. We have conducted kidnapping and ransom training in various countries worldwide, including Mexico and Colombia.

We utilize this training as a teambuilding exercise for groups traveling to potentially hostile environments. By ensuring that all team members have undergone the same training and possess a shared understanding of how to handle challenging situations, we aim to instill confidence within the group. We prepare our clients for natural disasters in foreign countries, such as earthquakes or tsunami warnings. Different cultures and countries have distinct ways of responding to these emergencies, and we equip our clients with the necessary knowledge to navigate these situations. We advise them on what to expect from emergency services worldwide, as the response and support systems can vary significantly. For example, emergency response in Chile, South America, differs considerably from Vancouver's. By providing such insights, we protect our clients from potential threats and empower them to take care of themselves in unfamiliar environments.

We work in potentially hostile or violent environments and low-risk situations. The underlying theory is that if you are going to have a driver accompany you to a particular place or meeting, it would be beneficial to have a driver who is also an expert in case unexpected situations arise. Therefore, our work isn't solely focused on violent situations. We are experts in handling unforeseen challenges and are equipped with unparalleled training and resourcefulness to deal with them.

We Conduct Risk Assessments And Situational Analyses Of The Environment To Ensure The Safety Of Our Clients

What sets us apart from other security providers is that we don't have a complicated chain of command that hampers the decision-making process. Our operators can make independent decisions in the event of communication breakdowns. We can operate effectively as a team or as individuals.

What services and capabilities does GlobeSec offer to help your clients with their requirements?

It's important to note that the breadth and scope of our services are quite extensive. We specialize in transportation logistics planning, ensuring safe travel from point A to point B.

We offer services such as securing conference environments. One noteworthy event we were involved in was the COFI Convention held in Vancouver last year. This conference attracted multiple companies, and there were protestors representing opposition to the industry these companies belonged to. They gathered at the hotel venue and used adhesive to attach their hands to the front doors. Rather than escalating the situation, we approached the hotel management and requested permission to handle the matter. They permitted us, and we peacefully assisted the protestors in removing their hands from the doors. Our intervention brought about a peaceful resolution to what could have been a violent confrontation.

When someone comes to us, it's usually through a referral, so there's already a baseline understanding of our capabilities and services. We then proceed to analyze the situation they have identified as requiring assistance. We discuss all the possibilities and ways to help in that particular environment. We outline actions we would take if things went wrong and what we would do if something went wrong. This is all documented in a service agreement.

"Unlike Some Other Companies, We Don't Simply React To A Situation Upon Arrival. Instead, We Analyze It Beforehand"

The security plan comprehensively outlines our actions, emphasizing that our primary focus is on de-escalation rather than escalation. During the COFI Convention, our main objective was to protect everyone involved, actively avoiding violent situations and confrontations. However, should such problems arise despite our best efforts; our process prioritizes individuals' safety and the environment's security. We strive to de-escalate tensions and maintain a sense of empathy towards all parties involved, understanding that there are often different perspectives at play.

Due to our commitment to non-violence and nonconfrontation, we have gained a positive reputation among local protest groups. They know us and recognize that we align with their principles. Thanks to our approach, we have resolved most situations without escalating.

For example, we were present on the ground in Toronto during the G20 summit. There were riots and clashes with the police and our team successfully ensured the safety of all our clients during that challenging time. Moreover, we were actively involved during the Stanley Cup riots in Vancouver and safely escorted all our clients out of the downtown area.

There are countless incidents like these. This showcases, we are well-prepared for any situation we encounter, which gives us a distinct advantage.

After assisting clients with their specific requirements, how do you ensure you maintain track of your performance once you have provided the services? Are there any particular metrics in place to ensure a seamless experience for your services?

In terms of how we operate, the proof lies in the fact that everyone who works with us returns and continues to work with us again. Most people who utilize our services remain loyal, some of whom have been clients for many years. This serves as evidence that people consistently come back to seek our assistance.

However, apart from this, we are always open to feedback and conduct our analysis. Following each event or mission, we perform a debriefing to assess what worked well and what areas could be improved. By doing so, we enhance our preparedness for similar situations.

We maintain regular communication and interaction with our clients and the individuals we protect. We actively seek feedback from them, even if they may need to gain extensive knowledge of security tactics. Their observations regarding our presence and interaction with the people they engage with are valuable to us. We strive to accurately represent their corporate ethos and ensure that our physical existence and interpersonal interactions align with their expectations. We actively consider the preferences of different companies regarding how they want their security provider to portray them. Therefore, we are highly attuned to these factors, and the feedback process remains an ongoing and integral part of our operations.

With 15 years of experience in the security space, we are fostering long-term client relationships via a subtle, holistic, and professional approach to security.